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KEARNY BOARD OF EDUCATION File Code: 5141.6 Kearny, New Jersey POLICY |
CRISIS RESPONSE
The Kearny Board of Education realizes that a death of a student, staff member or parent presents unique issues for school mental health professionals and other educators attempting to coordinate a response to the loss and grief experience by students, staff members and parents.
The school must be perceived as a safe and secure environment. It is important to understand that unlike the crisis stage, grief and mourning are likely to last for years.
The following guidelines are to assist the Kearny faculty and staff when involved in a traumatic event.
A crisis team should be set up in advance in each school. The role of the Crisis Team is to provide support, control, and structure to a situation until the school returns to its pre-crisis state. The uncontrollable nature of a crisis can make students and faculty feel personally out of control, therefore structure and order are important. Continuing to maintain structure (e.g. following class schedules; not dismissing school early) provides some degree of predictability. The organized order of the school day provides a measure of support around which all other responses can then be organized. With flexibility, even the expression of grief, for both students and faculty, can be accomplished in an orderly fashion.
The Crisis Team should be comprised of the building administrator (Principal/Vice Principal), the school counselor(s) and the school nurse. Other team members may include the Student Assistance Counselor, Child Study Team members and one or more teachers. The Crisis Team members must be trained in Crisis Management.
Crisis Team preparation should include the designation of a Safe Room to be used for students and possibly staff when a tragedy occurs. Each school should have a copy of Managing Sudden Traumatic Loss in the Schools, by Maureen Underwood and Karen Dunne-Maxim (1997). The book includes sample notice and letters to parents which can be tailored to specific events.
Crisis Response Procedures
§ Notification
When the administrator becomes aware of a sudden death or loss, and it has been confirmed, he/she will notify the Crisis Team and the staff by using the snow chain (or individual calls, based on the type of crisis that occurs) prior to the next school day. The staff should be informed about a meeting that will occur on the morning of the next school day. The administrator should inform the Superintendent and request any additional support staff that might be needed from other schools.
§ Acknowledging the Tragedy
The Crisis Team needs to meet early on the morning of the next school day to prepare statements and information for the faculty and staff. This includes: 1) A notice for teachers to read to their students, along with guidelines for discussion; 2) A notice needs to be prepared to send home to the parents to make them aware of the situation and what services are available at the school; 3) The Crisis Team will then meet with the faculty and staff; 4) At this meeting the loss needs to be acknowledged and the feelings of staff members can be assessed; 5) At this time the Crisis Team members should observe those staff members who may need a substitute or additional support; 6) Information about the availability of support staff as well as the location of the Safe Room should be announced; 7) The discussion should include the notice that teachers will read to their students as well as discussion guidelines; 8) Teachers should allow for discussion, but then attempt to keep the day as normal as possible; 9) During the day the support staff will be in the Safe Room or moving around the building to offer assistance wherever it might be needed
§ Staff Debriefing
At the end of the first day and over the next few weeks, staff meetings should be held to evaluate the situation, the response, and the “health” of the school. These meetings will allow for alterations of the Crisis Plan or to secure other needed support services.
Adopted: October 16, 2006